With just 10 regular season games left in the 2025 season, Kentucky baseball (25-17, 10-11 SEC) is set for a three-game road series against Mississippi State (26-19, 7-14 SEC).

What to Watch

The Bulldogs were in the news this week as they made a mid-season coaching change, firing Head Coach Chris Lemonis and naming Justin Parker as the Interim Head Coach for the rest of the season.

Mississippi State responded to the change by obliterating Memphis 18-5 in its midweek matchup.

Kentucky Head Coach Nick Mingione came to Lexington from Starkville where he spent eight seasons as an Assistant Coach.

The biggest news for the Bat Cats is the injury status of freshman phenom Tyler Bell, who was injured in the 6-4 loss against WKU. Bell singled in the ninth and rolled his ankle rounding first, which led to his removal from the game.

The SEC injury report, which is available two hours before first pitch should give a clearer image of Bell’s status coming into the series.

When it comes to the all-time head-to-head record for the two programs, the Bulldogs hold a 65-44 advantage over the Wildcats. Mississippi State also holds a 42-12 at Dudy Noble Field.

The teams last met in 2023 in Lexington where Kentucky swept the Bulldogs to open SEC play. However, in 2021 Mississippi State swept the visiting Bat Cats.

Offense

Starting with an overall look at both offenses, the home Bulldogs are tied for third in the SEC with a .305 team batting average. Mississippi State dips to fifth in terms of slugging percentage at .528 and comes in at eighth in the SEC with a .407 on-base percentage.

Kentucky enters the series 13th in the conference in both batting average and slugging percentage with marks of .274 and .430 respectively. The Bat Cats move up three spots to 10th in the SEC with a .399 on-base percentage.

Shifting over to induvial threats, Cole Hage leads the Bat Cats into Starkville with a team-high .331 batting average and .600 slugging percentage. Hage is second amongst active starters with a .459 on-base percentage.

Patrick Herrera missed the series win against South Carolina, but he returned for a pinch-hitting appearance against WKU. Herrera would be a welcomed addition back to the lineup as he leads active starters with a .468 on-base percentage. Herrera is second on the team with a .322 batting average. The senior comes in with a .441 slugging percentage.

Bell rounds out the Cats’ offensive threats assuming he will be in the lineup as he enters the series with a .321 batting average, .407 on-base percentage and a .530 slugging percentage.

Gehrig Frei kicks off the home threats as he leads the Bulldogs with a .371 batting average. Frei has also hit to a .629 slugging percentage and is getting on base at a .436 clip on the year.

When it comes to the power department, Ace Reese leads the Bulldogs with a .703 slugging percentage. The sophomore has also hit to a .349 batting average and .411 on-base percentage.

Noah Sullivan rounds out the home threats and he leads the Bulldogs with a .484 on-base percentage. Sullivan has accumulated a .344 batting average and a .642 slugging percentage on the season.

Overall Pitching

The home Bulldogs are ninth in the SEC on the mound with a team ERA of 4.53. Mississippi State improves to seventh in the conference with a .231 batting average against.

As for the visiting Wildcats, they enter the series with a 4.17 team ERA, which is sixth the in conference. Kentucky drops to eighth in the SEC with a .235 batting average against.

Pitching Matchups

For game one of the series, Pico Kohn is expected to get the home start, and he comes into the game with a 3.82 ERA in his 61 1/3 innings of work. The left-hander has given up 26 earned runs on the year along with 89 strikeouts and 15 walks. Opposing hitters are batting .219 off of Kohn.

Nate Harris is expected to get the ball for game one for the Wildcats and he has allowed 17 earned runs in 41 2/3 innings of work, which equates to a 3.67 ERA. The freshman has walked 15 batters and struck out 31. The righty has allowed a .214 batting average against on the season.

For the middle game of the series, Evan Siary is expected to get the home start with a 4.09 ERA on the season. The righty has given up 15 earned runs in his 33 innings of work. Siary has struck out 37 batters and walked 11. Opposing batters are hitting to a .222 batting average against Siary.

Kentucky is expected to send Nic McCay to the hill in game two and he has accumulated a 3.42 ERA in his 52 2/3 innings of work. The righty has allowed 20 earned runs, 31 walks and 54 strikeouts on the season. Opposing hitters are hitting .179 off of McCay.

In the series finale, Karson Ligon is expected to get the ball, and he has given up 31 earned runs in 39 2/3 innings of work, which equates to a 7.03 ERA. The right-hander has walked 17 and struck out 48 on the year. Hitters are batting .278 off of Ligon.

Kentucky’s ace Ben Cleaver is expected to get the ball in game three and he’s pitched to a 3.02 ERA in 59 2/3 innings of work. The lefty has allowed 20 earned runs on the year along with 21 walks and a team-leading 68 strikeouts. Cleaver has allowed a .176 batting average against on the year.

With the stage now set, the Bat Cats and Bulldogs will take the field for game one on Friday, May 2, with first pitch set for 7 p.m. ET.